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Since the late Middle Ages, English speakers have experimented with the use of the word pippin, which germinated from the Anglo-French word pepin, meaning "seed" or "pip of a fruit." "Pippin" has been used to refer to a part of a pea embryo, a grain of gold, and a grape, but those uses were not hardy enough to become firmly rooted in the English language. The word did take root, however, in the soil of the northern regions of England, where it is used to describe a small fruit seed. In addition, it has widespread use as the name of a crisp, tart apple and of a person who is unique, usually in a pleasant way.

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pippin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.